New Budget Includes Funding for Jacksonville Journey

The Jacksonville Journey anti-crime initiative is budgeted to receive $31 million in the proposed Jacksonville city budget. The Jacksonville City Council has to approve a budget by October 1, 2008.

The Jacksonville Journey has made many recommendations concerning crime in Jacksonville:

1. To add 101 police officers to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

2. New police officers should be added over the next five years with reviews made yearly about the need for new officers.

3. Increase the use of probation and community control (house arrest) for people convicted of felonies.

4. Try to convince Jacksonville judges to adopt a bond schedule. That means having pre-set bonds for certain crimes so the person arrested can bond out before they have to go the first appearance (J1) court.